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Tenebrio adaptability to temperature changes
Tenebrio molitor, commonly known as mealworms, exhibit a remarkable ability to adapt to various temperature conditions. In northern regions, under natural conditions, both larvae and adult beetles can survive the winter. They can tolerate temperatures below 10°C in storage facilities, although their survival rate is very low in such environments. Mealworms begin to die when the temperature exceeds 35°C. During the fall, when the temperature drops below 15°C, they enter a hibernation-like state. At this stage, they continue to feed but do not grow or undergo development. Once the winter period ends and the temperature rises artificially, they resume feeding and continue their growth and metamorphosis.
If the temperature in the rearing room is increased to 20°C during winter, larvae can restart normal feeding and eventually pupate and emerge as adults. However, for successful mating and egg-laying, the temperature needs to be raised to at least 25°C. Therefore, the optimal growth and reproduction temperature range for Tenebrio molitor is between 25°C and 30°C, while the suitable growth range extends from 20°C to 32°C. The lethal high temperature is around 35°C.
It’s worth noting that even at 32°C, mealworms may start dying in large numbers if the population density is too high. This is because when there are many larvae in a confined space, constant movement and friction between individuals generate additional heat, raising the local temperature by 2 to 5°C. To prevent this, it's essential to reduce the population density and improve ventilation to help dissipate heat effectively.
Mealworms are also vulnerable to extreme cold. They tend to die when the temperature drops below 4°C. In the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi Province, where winter temperatures often remain around 10°C for over 20 days, most mealworms do not freeze to death, showing their strong cold resistance. Natural temperature changes are usually gradual, allowing insects to adapt more easily. However, sudden and drastic temperature fluctuations caused by human intervention—such as daily temperature swings exceeding 20°C—can disrupt their metabolism and lead to disease and higher mortality rates.
We have learned from past experiences that inconsistent heating, such as turning on heaters during the day and off at night, can create extreme temperature differences. For example, in an insect-rearing room, the indoor temperature might fluctuate between 8°C at night and 28°C during the day. These large temperature variations weaken the mealworms’ resistance, leading to mass deaths within a month. Like other living organisms, mealworms are sensitive to sudden temperature shifts and are prone to illness and death under such stressful conditions.